There has been much written on these pages about Claremont’s memorable last to first 1964 premiership win over East Fremantle, scraping into the four after playing virtual finals in the last five games of the home and away games. One of the best for the Tigers in that grand final was wingman Keren Guard, who had the job on Barry Biffin and Daryl Cormack, two more than capable players. But it was touch and go whether or not he would get a guernsey for the big game.“I got smashed in the opening quarter of the last qualifying game, against West Perth,” he said. “I was running backwards to mark a high ball at the same time as Dale Edwards and Mel Whinnen were coming from the opposite direction. I got the worst of the collision, went off, and missed both the first semi and the preliminary final. My shoulder and collarbone were still troubling me but I finally convinced coach Jimmy Conway that I was fit enough.”  That flag was to be the highlight of the five foot six and a half Guard’s career.“In my opinion the lean years prior to 1964 forged a desire between all of us and with Jim Conway's method of coaching it seemed to be a good fit,” he said.  “There was another factor I believe in that there was a lot of camaraderie between league  and reserve players and this mix was good for the club.”“I don’t want to nominate individuals within our own ranks because during those lean years and into 1964 everyone played their part and I have my own thoughts on "special" players.” Initially a rover, Keren Guard was an outstanding junior in the Claremont district competition, winning a Sam Clarke Medal for fairest and best in the under sixteens, but missed the under eighteens because of study commitments. He was selected for the Western Australian State Schoolboys side for the Adelaide Carnival in 1953, along with several others who would go on to a league career, including Swans Bob Manning, South Fremantle pair Colin Beard and Ron Doig, and John Vukman(West Perth). Guard played in the inaugural season of the WANFL colts competition, representing the Tigers in two grand finals, both of which were won by Swan Districts. He made his league debut late in the 1959 season as an eighteen year old. “It was a tough call to get a game in the league side as a rover at that time, with Les Mumme, Murray Ward, and Kelvin Allsop in the side,” he recalled.  The diminutive Guard, a very quick player, with the ability to win the hard ball, a reliable kick, and dependable mark. was a cousin by marriage to West Perth  and State player Ken Ashdown, and he was directly opposed to the star defender in an early appearance. “He certainly didn’t do me any favours,” Guard said. It wasn’t easy in those days, when a Saturday afternoon in the company of Ray Sorrell, Trizzy Lawrence, the Regans(“love em”), Whinnen, Chadwick, Brehaut, Martin and many others was a tough assignment. Claremont lost the 1965 preliminary final to East Fremantle. It was to be another seven years before they would appear in another grand final, and a further decade before the premiership flag made a return to Claremont Oval.    Hip and groin problems forced retirement on Guard at the end of  the 1967 season. He coached juniors as his boys went through the grades, with all three: Brendan , Jeremy, and Nick  continuing in the game, Nick  and Brendan with Old Scotch Amateurs, and Jeremy playing a hundred and nine games with Claremont. Although Geelong were interested in  him at the 1991 AFL National Draft, it was Fitzroy who went for Jeremy at  pick number seven, one of six Claremont players named in the first seven selections. Jeremy Guard played in each game of 1992 and 93 for Fitzroy, and chalked up sixty eight appearances with the club before returning to captain Claremont in the 1996 grand final, which the Tigers won by two points over East Perth. He was appointed State captain in 1997 but injury prevented him from playing. Brendan Guard was selected in a State Amateur side.    A clerical administration officer who spent many years in the North West, Keren Guard is now retired, and laid up with a hip revision, no doubt contributed to somewhat by his football days. He’s a keen swimmer, married to a Port Power supporter(Gloria) and  a Fremantle Docker fan. Subiaco’s Wally Martin and Perth’s Greg Brehaut were Keren’s choices as toughest opponents, while he reckoned the whole 1964 side were the best he played with, special mentions going to Kevin Clune, Les Mumme, John Fairbrass, Wayne Harvey, Alan Mycock, and Dale Edwards.  “Great memories…good players,” There were many stars of the Claremont flag of 64, and Keren Guard was one of them. A fast and determined wingman/rover/half forward, he was a fine player of the sixties.                            .